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2011 Audi A4 BTCC
 
After a 12 year hiatus from participating in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Audi will be headed back to the racing series to try and regain the championship previously won in 1996. In 2011, the Audi name will once again be heard in the competition thanks to private race team, Rob Austin Racing, who will bring two Audi A4 models to compete with in the series. The Audi A4 models participating in the series will need to be refined in order to meet up with the new Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations. These regulations include the vehicle being capable of front- and rear-wheel drive as well have a ’300bhp+’ turbo-charged engine, but the most important aspect of the new regulations is the lowering of running costs for the teams while still maintaining the performance from the previous years. Currently, GPR Motorsport is working on the future racers, but Rob Austin Racing has provided the rendering above as a preview to the vehicles. The A4 BTCC will have strong competition next year as the Honda Racing Team (Honda Civic), Team Aon and Airwaves Racing (Ford Focus), Eurotech (Vauxhall Vectra, Special Tuning UK (SEAT Leon) and AmD Milltek Racing.com (VW Golf) have already announced they would be amping up their vehicles with the new regulations for the 2011 season. Next generation Audi A4 will lose 300 lbs
Historically, with every new Audi vehicle that was born, a weight increase of about 10% always came along with it. That was, until the Audi A4 came into play in 2009. This Audi, AKA the B8, only carried a little less than 100lbs of a weight gain from the previous model and Audi seems to be the only brand that has managed to drop weight, but increase size. And Audi isn’t stopping the weight reduction with the 2009 A4. In an interview with Autoblog, Heinrich Timm, head of Audi’s Lightweight Design Center, said that the next generation A4 - set to be revealed in 2015 - will lose around 150 kg (330 pounds) from the current weight. In order to do that, Audi will use more aluminum, innovative structural techniques, and composites. Of course, the first benefit of a lighter car is a lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, but it can also improve every aspect of the vehicle’s dynamics – from handling to braking to acceleration. In fact, for every 220lbs lost from a vehicle, that vehicle can get to 60mph in 20 fewer feet. Pretty impressive. According to Timm, the weight reduction is the only way automakers can simultaneously meet new emission standards while delivering the content and driving experience customers expect. Timm says, "We want to bring it to a higher volume." Audi A4 Avant Black Arrow by Avus Performance
 Audi A4 Avant received a tuning package from the German tuner Avus Performance. Called Black Arrow is painted in gloss black finish and is powered by a 2.7-liter TDI engine that thanks to an ECU upgrade delivers 230bhp and 358 lb/ft of torque (up from a standard 190bhp and 295 lb/ft). The car is also equipped with coilovers and lowering springs. It sits on massive 21 inch wheels. The car can be also ordered in matte black or white.
BMW infiltrates Audi turf with billboard
The ‘Billboard War’ between Audi and BMW has taken a new life of its own, thanks to the latter’s new Billboard in Ingolstadt, which incidentally, is the home turf of Audi. If you recall, the two European automakers engaged in a ‘can-you-top-this?’ billboard duel in California, USA last April. The first salvo was thrown by Audi, which created a billboard for the Audi A4 with the tag line ‘Your move, BMW’ at its dealership along Santa Monica Boulevard. Not to be outdone, BMW commissioned Juggernaut Advertising, which came up with a brilliant response to Audi’s billboard. Across the street from the Audi billboard was put up, BMW produced a bigger billboard of its BMW M3 with the simple tag-line of ‘Checkmate’ – a direct reference to Audi’s slogan. Full story 2010 Audi A4, A5, Q5 prices announced
The German automaker Audi has just announced prices for the 2010 A4 and A5 sedan and coupe as well as the Q5 compact crossover. In the appropriate Vorsprung das Tecnik fashion, each of the luxury vehicles have been improved for next year. The A4 and A5 now feature LED tail lights as part of the Premium Plus and Prestige trim packages, the sporty A5 will also receive, for the first time, the same fuel efficient 2.0 Liter TFSI direct-injection four cylinder engine that is offered in the A4. The larger Q5 Prestige will also offer an optional Luxury Package to make customers feel like their money was well spent. The 2010 Audi A4 will start at $31,450 equipped with the TFSI 2.0 Liter driving the front wheels and goes all the way up to $42,250 for the quattro version when they start to make their way into showrooms. The sporty A5 will start out at $36,000 for a 2.0 TFSI powered quattro Coupe with a manual transmission and will go all the way up to $45,500 for a Tiptronic. The Audi Q5 SUV is not only the heaviest of the bunch, but will also tip the monetary scales the most with a starting rice of $37,350 that climbs to $48,850 depending on how luxurious a packages you prefer. Press release after the jump. Full story Audi Q5 and A4 allroad get new entry-level engines
Audi is offering new entry-level engines for both the Audi Q5 and Audi A4 Allroad. The Q5 gets the 2.0 TDI and the 2.0-liter TFSI, both in conjunction with the 6-speed manual transmission. The diesel engine is also available for the A4 Allroad. Both engines are in-line four-cylinder engines with direct injection, with the diesel version developing 143 hp and the gasoline one 180 hp. Press release after the jump. Full story
World Record: Bio-gas Audi A4 hits 226.55 MPH
Watch out Bugatti, because someone has just has just recorded a land speed record, for an alternatively fueled vehicle. This gas powered Audi A4 sped its way into the pages of the Guinness Book Of World Records with a 225+ MPH run. Under the hood, the four door Audi uses a modified turbocharged 3.0 Liter V6 running on compressed natural gas. An added advantage of the alternative gas is its rating of 120 octane, allowing Hohenester, the tuners which prepared the vehicle, to pile on the boost without worrying about detonation. Although the twin turbo motor makes closer to 800 HP, it was restricted to only 700 ponies for the record setting 226.55 MPH run. What we want to know is, where to get some CNG for our test fleet. 2009 Audi A4 2.0 TDI e
Audi launched the most fuel efficient A4 in the line-up: the A4 2.0 TDI e with a fuel consumption of 4.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (51.13 miles per U.S. gallon) and CO2 emission of 119 g/km. The e version delivers 136 hp and can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 9.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 133.59 mph. Sales will begin at a price of 30,800 euros. Press release after the jump. Full story Audi A4 allroad coming to the U.S.
It was no big surprise when Audi confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show that its wagon/crossover A4 allroad would not be part of the U.S. lineup. The limited market and the failure of the A6 allroad seemed like an easy decision to keep the car off the wagon-fearing shores of North America. But now that Subaru has a new Outback on the way, everything may have changed. The Truth About Cars has a source within Audi North America who said, “Audi believes there’s a large number of U.S. Outback owners who’re tired of the brand. Customers who want the same sort of vehicle, only better.” Now the A4 allroad mat be in U.S. showrooms as early as September. Audi sells the A4 allroad in Europe starting at €37,100 (about $49K at direct current rates), and the current Outback starts at $22,295. Last year Subaru sold 44,280 Outbacks, so is this market big enough for Audi to skim the cream off the top? Video: Audi A4 on the production line
Not all of us can get to Ingolstadt, Germany to watch Audi build an A4, so the next best thing is to see Audi’s video from the factory. We’re sure Audi didn’t plan ahead when making this video, and its assembly line is just littered with attractive blondes. Hmmmmm.
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